Posted on: 1 December 2010

Ajanta - Cave X. Figures from the earliest painting - 1878

Illustrations of paintings from Cave X at Ajanta from James Burgess' 'Original Drawings from the Buddhist Rock Temples at Ajanta.' The magnificent cave temples of Ajanta are situated in a horse-shoe valley of the Waghora River in West India and consist of prayer halls (chaityas) and monasteries (viharas), built for the Buddhist community who lived there. The first group was excavated between the 2nd - 1st century BC. After a period of more than six centuries, the excavations restarted around the 5th century AD in the Vakataka period. Cave X is an impressive chaitya hall and one of the earliest excavations from the 2nd century BC. The interior is divided into three aisles by two rows of plain octagonal columns. At the end of the central nave there is a votive stupa. There are some traces of paintings preserved on the walls which depict episodes from the life of the Buddha.

Source : British Library


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A suggestion, if we can also tell how this book can be procured then it will be very helpful. It can be either in the physical form or e-book form. So my earnest request to all the members, if you know about the books which are getting posted here then please tell if the books are available from some vendors.

Saurabh : RBSI has followed a consistent pattern for all its hundreds of posts from the very beginning. All the books posted here have a 'read online link' and a 'download pdf book link'. The prints (such as the one above), paintings, sculpture and articles would have a brief writeup about it and the Source is always mentioned for all of the above.

ajanta is best known for its depiction of jataka tales on walls..actually it was a buddhist prayer centre..caitya hall is the central room for monks..surrounded by viharas.. thanks for sharing it here.